“Siddiqui has posted an objectionable picture of Lord Shiva from his Facebook account. Earlier too, he had posted objectionable comments against home minister Rajnath Singh,” Kumar said.

On his complaint, police registered a case against Siddiqui under sections 153A and 295 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and section 66 of the IT Act.

Pleading innocence, Aiazuddin said: “I saw an objectionable post on Facebook on Saturday evening. It disturbed me and I inadvertently shared it while warning the person concerned not to post such objectionable pictures which hurt religious feelings of the people.”

“A group of BJP and Hindu Yuva Vahini activists were mounting pressure on the administration and the police to arrest me. My family believes in respecting all religions,” he added.

Inspector, Budhana, Jaibhagwan said, “Preliminary investigation suggests that Aiazuddin was trying to post a message of communal harmony appealing people not to upload objectionable pictures and messages. However, he himself inadvertently posted an objectionable picture of Lord Shiva.”

He said the matter would be investigated to verify the charges levelled against Aiazuddin.

Actor Nawazuddin belongs to Budhana town of Muzaffarnagar. His family still resides there.